The ASB Articulator Vol 8 Iss 3

Volume VIII, Issue 3

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SUBMISSIONS

Christopher Chan

The ASB Articulator welcomes contributions. Articles should include a title and the writer’s full name. Photographs are optional, but highly encour-aged. Articles are subject to editing for space and clairty. Submit articles to [email protected].

The Voice of the Student Body of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

ARTICULATORThe ASB

Happy New Year from the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Asso-ciated Student Body Council. As we embark upon a new year, we can look forward to many things. The website for the school has been completely modernized and can be found at dentistry.usc.edu. It features new sections such as a Twitter feed from Dean Sadan and students sharing their personal stories of being at USC. The pictures are captivating, fonts are crisp, and logos are redesigned to reflect our new identity. In addition, visitors can more easily find out how to be a patient of the school in the newly revamped Patient Care Section. We can also look forward to a new Associated Student Body Council and Executive Committee. The Class of 2015 elected their new Class Board and four students were appointed to represent their class in organized den-tistry positions. The incoming ASB officers remain committed to the stu-dent body’s welfare and best interests. We are available during Office Hours or can be contacted by e-mail at [email protected]. Furthermore, we have been busily planning for The Auction and hope you will attend this momen-tous event on March 15, 2012. As I reflect upon this year, I wish to thank you all for your support and enthusiasm for The ASB Articulator. We were able to create the first online version of this publication at www.theasbarticulator.com. The end result was a more accessible and visually stimulating newsletter. I am proud to also report that we have been nominated for the most improved newslet-ter at the next American Student Dental Association Annual Session. We will keep you updated with the results of our nomination as soon as we find out. I hope that you continue your support for the incoming ASB Vice-Pres-ident of Internal Affairs and newest Editor-in-Chief of The ASB Articulator Ronald Chung. I truly thank you for all your articles and pictures that have made this publication possible over the past year.

From the Editor

The ASB Articulator 2

Christian Medical Dental Association

2011 ASDA Western Regional Meeting

Academy of General Dentistry

LDS Academy Bonfire

Student Production and Debt: New IdeasSPEA National Annual Session

AYUDA 2011 Rosarito

CONTENTS

3

4-5

5

6

7-8

8-9

10-13

Indian Dental Student Association

Practice Management Society

A Hiker’s Paradise

Make Smiles Possible

Photo Collage

Comics, Calendar of Events

Crossword

SOCIAL MEDIA

[email protected] www.theasbarticulator.com

14

14

15-16

16-17

18

19

20

ASB EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

PRESIDENT

VICE-PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

VICE-PRESIDENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

SECRETARY

Christopher Chan

Ronald Chung

Kasra Tajik

Khine Htet

ASB Office Hours are availalbe Wednesdays 12-1 PM in Room B-47-C [email protected]

Christian Medical Dental Association

MICHAEL SILVA 2013Co-President, CMDAClouded by the demands of an ever rigorous schedule and pres-

sure to always perform one’s best? There is a weekly gathering at the dental school which allows students to relax and re-orient on

the true focus of their life, their Christian faith. Every Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm the Christian Medical Dental Association (CMDA) gathers in 160A/B for a time of good food and fellowship, focusing this trimester on doing a weekly study on the attributes of God based on Scripture. Built on the core values of being “Christ-like”, compassionate, competent, and culturally relevant the club is part of a national organiza-tion, which was founded in 1931, and is today the nation’s largest orga-nization of Christian health care professionals within the United States, with chapters in 80% of the nation’s medical and dental institutions. While CMDA is primarily about one’s faith it is also about develop-ing lasting friendships and community service. Compelled to serve by Christ’s great commission, CMDA annually travels to Central America, during the second week of Spring break, to provide free dental care to the local populations. Last year a team visited Nueva Esperanza, an inland region of El Salvador, and with the aid of dentists and dental pro-fessionals from around the nation, provided comprehensive care to over 200 patients. This year the team is preparing to work in Villa Nueva, a suburb of Guatemala City and hopes to reach even more in the name of Christ. Yet CMDA is not solely for believers. Committed to creating a non-judgmental environment where everyone is welcome is a key aspect of the club. Students of all faiths are always encouraged to attend, and questions are never frowned upon. While dental school, and the stresses that naturally come with it, will always place a burden on every student’s life it is comforting to know that they don’t have to bear that burden alone. * If you would like more information on the upcoming trip to Guatemala please email Dr. Mike Roberts ([email protected]). ■



American Student Dental Association

ISSAM SAM SAAB 2015Western Regional Meeting Attendee

On November 4th through November 6th, I had the opportunity and privilege to attend the 2011 ASDA Western Regional Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. ASDA, the American Student Dental Association, is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests, and welfare of all

dental students. It introduces dental students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry and provides ser-vices, information, representation and advocacy. Here at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, every student is automatically enrolled in the ASDA membership. The Western Regional Meeting was a two and a half day event that introduced the attendees to the organization and the current topics and issues in organized den-tistry. I submitted an application to attend this meeting without knowing what to expect. ASB was generous enough to subsidize the majority of the expenses, so I only had to partially fund myself. I was a little concerned about missing an important PBL session on Friday and having to be prepared for the Monday session, because I knew that we were going to be occupied the whole weekend. On the flight to San Antonio on Thursday night, I was extremely excited and looking forward to meeting other dental students from across the country. Three other stu-dents from the Ostrow School of Dentistry accompanied me: Christopher Chan, Tracy Mackoy, and Andrew French. Without them, this trip would not have been nearly as en-joyable. We arrived at the San Antonio airport at midnight, and took a cab to our hotel. Upon arrival to the hotel, we met student representatives from UCSF and ASDOH, and decided to discuss what the long weekend had in store for us. At around 2 am, after meeting each other and having conversation about dental school and life in general, we headed back to our hotel rooms to prepare for the first meeting. At 8 am the following morning, all the attendees checked into the hotel ballroom and had a nice continen-tal breakfast. I was instantly dumbfounded with the tremendous participation of students in ASDA, and I was further impressed with the level of organization ASDA commands. All registered attendees were given a tote bag, flash drive, and the weekend schedule. Shortly after the breakfast, Brittany Bensch (Washington ’12), the current vice president of ASDA, welcomed us to the meeting and briefly introduced ASDA and the way the organization runs. Following Brittany’s talk, the Dean of Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Dr. Jack Dillenberg, gave a very inspirational talk on “Leadership for the dental team and beyond”, and his experience

with commencing a new dental school. As the day went by, we attended several meetings, and learned more about ADPAC (American Dental Political Action Committee) and ASDA policymaking. The day ended with a very successful exhibit fair, where we were able to network with dental companies and organizations, and of course, left with plenty of informational material. The following morning, we started our day with a talk on ASDA’s ad-vocacy and learned about what the Legislative Grassroots Network does


to advocate for ASDA members, and how the members can get involved. Following that talk, a regional client relationship manager provided insight into debt management strategies, and how a strategic approach can help us significantly reduce the cost of our debt. After a couple other presentations and announcements, we attended a seminar that highlighted the changes in the National Board Dental Examination, and how theses changes can affect us. We also learned about the changes to postgrad evaluations, and the possibility of specialty exams. The seminar was followed by a luncheon with table topics. Following lunch, we attended a meeting to discuss the is-sue of Midlevel Providers and explored what is happening is some of the states that have approved these provid-ers and those states that have not approved their creation, all within the context of the stance of ASDA and the ADA on this type of provider. We ended the day with a joint district caucus, and a leadership reception. Although everyday at Western Regional Meeting was filled with meetings, speakers, and presentations, dental students were also able to enjoy recreational time. In the evening, many of the students met at local venues around San Antonio and enjoyed district dinners with neighboring dental schools. We also explored the famous “San Antonio River Walk” and other tourist attractions in downtown. Upon reflection of my first ASDA meeting, I feel deeply honored and privileged to have attended and repre-sented the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Meeting incredibly sharp dental students from different parts of the country and witnessing organized dentistry in action further solidified my desire to become a vocal and proactive dental professional. This weekend has showed me the ability of dental students working together to ef-fectively advance the rights, interests, and welfare of our profession, and ultimately our future. ■

Acad

emy o

f General D

entistry

ANDREW YOUNG 2014Treasurer, Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry was founded in 1952 by eight general dentists seeking an organized body for quality-

driven general practictioners. The principles of this organization were rooted in education. The group agreed that in order to maintain the highest level of care, continuing education requirements would be encouraged for the latest procedures and trends. And so, the AGD was created. The AGD strives to serve the needs and repre-sent the interest of general dentists by promoting public oral health. The organization advocates the continued proficiency of general dentists through continuing dental education geared towards public service. Currently, the AGD has more than 37,000 members in both Canada and the United States dedicated to comprehensive dental servic-es, education, health promotion and wellness. This year, USC AGD has taken strides to make information and resources more readily available to the student body. From advice to discounts,

USC AGD hopes to guide its members through dental school and into a successful career. Stu-dent members enjoy reduced membership rates, free annual meetings and exhibits, registrations including access to capsule clinics, lectures, the AGD Exhibit Hall and exciting social events. The first general body meeting drew more than 50 USC dental students from every class. Stu-dents were introduced to the Fellow Track Pro-gram, which outlined the available 25 continuing education credit hours for the AGD Fellowship Award (FAGD), one of the only achievement-based awards in general dentistry. Students also discussed a myriad of topics including CEREC/CAD-CAM, implant placement, endodontic pro-cedures, operative esthetics and dental pathology. The members of USC AGD largely dictate future discussion topics, presentations and work-shops; so students are very much encouraged to participate. For more information on the AGD and membership visit: http://www.agd.org/. ■


ACADEMY of LDS DENTISTS Bonf i re Repor t

DANIEL SNOW 2014Member, Academy of LDS Dentists

Teeth are what bring us all together. But the beach trash brought some of

the dental students even closer together on November 19th. The Academy of LDS (Latter-day Saint) Dentists hosted the second annual Beach Bonfire this week at Dockweiler Beach with games, a bonfire, (lots of) food, dental students and their families, and a service project (this is where the trash came in). The Academy of LDS Dentists is a national organization that unites dentists and dental students alike with a three-fold purpose of providing community service, continued education, and fellowship. Even though the USC student chapter is the newest addition to the Academy family, it is one of the largest student chapters in the nation. The USC student chapter is excited to be connected to the larger national organization as its members aim to complement their education with service. Trash. It’s like plaque on a tooth – it’s there and someone has to clean it up. Who better to clean up a beach than dental students armed with Nitrile gloves? By the time we were done with the beach there wasn’t a professor in the faculty that could have found a click. The dental students were good, but the spouses and children were the ones that really came through (you would have thought that they were the ones donning Nitrile gloves day in and day out). After the Dockweiler shone like a pearly white, the bonfire roared, with hot dogs and marshmallows being roasted over the flames. All in all, it was a great event with dental students rediscovering that “scaling” can be done on more than a calculus cliff and “carries” can be a verb and families enjoyed time at the beach. The USC student chapter invites all students to become members of the organiza-tion or just join us for activities. Be sure to keep an eye open for more opportunities to network with other dental students and dentists. We will keep you informed as we hope to have many more successful activities in the future. ■


ACADEMY of LDS DENTISTS Bonf i re Repor t Student Production and Debt: New Ideas

ROBERT HANN 20122013 ADEA Representative

The American Dental Education Association held its 2011 Fall Meetings from October 20th through the 22nd in San Antonio. Of the various meetings, plenary sessions, and

networking opportunities, one presenter seemed most likely to be of interest to readers of this Articulator: Dr John Williams, the ADEA Vice President for Deans. His presentation was on student production and debt, and he advanced some ideas that are worthy of your consideration. Dr Williams began his presentation with several facts. First, student loan debt is greater now than at any other time in his-tory. Anecdotally, this means that while a measurable fraction of the dentists of his generation were able to pay for most of their education as it took place, the overwhelming majority of today’s dentists graduate with a tremendous debt burden. In more concrete terms, this translates to a nationwide student loan debt that has surpassed $1 trillion, and a measurable fraction of current dental students having to sign up for federally sponsored Income-Based Repayment in order to satisfy the financial obli-gations they will incur as a necessary part of their education. Second, the national average of clinic income generated per dental student per year is estimated to be between $8,000 and $10,000. And third, upon obtaining an associateship, a starting dentist needs to generate approximately $400,000 in order to earn an estimated salary of about $100,000. This jump in pro-ductivity, from $8,000 to $400,000, is astronomical. Dr Williams has a provocative idea for how to better prepare a dentist to make this jump, while at the same time reducing student loan debt: he suggests the possibility of requiring D4 students to produce and collect $50,000 to $100,000 annually. This would drastically reduce the existing productivity gap, more closely model a private practice environment, and provide the possibility for tuition rebates upon graduation. Additionally, this requirement would increase schools’ clinic income, histori-cally a very small portion of the cost of running a dental school. This kind of dramatic increase in productivity could be achieved by increasing the number of patient appointments per day, and by increasing clinic hours. Most schools currently offer

Student loan debt is greater now than at

any other time in history.

“ “


SPEA National Annual S ession

PETER LEE 2013Editor-in-Chief

Student Professionalism and Ethics Association

The Student Professionalism and Ethics Association (SPEA) held its inaugural annual national meeting in Las Vegas on October 10 – 11th. The attendees of the meet-

ing included around thirty students from across the nation, six of them from USC. Three former Student Professionalism and Ethics Club (SPEC) founding alumni, Drs. Mike Meru, Ray Klein, and Nikol Malik, attended the meeting as well. SPEC was first founded by a group of students at USC in 2007. Four years later, it has expanded to over thirty dental

two patient appointments per day, during 35 clinic hours per week, over about 40 weeks per year. Dr Williams suggests scheduling up to four appointments per day in clinics open as many as 60 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. He also put forward the idea that D3 and D4 stu-dents doing hygiene might not represent the most efficient use of clinic space, time, faculty and staff. Another tuition-reducing possibility could be reduc-ing education time, along the lines of the high school advanced placement model. For example, dental students who have completed advanced undergraduate coursework in physiology might not need to have another physiology course in dental school. This model could save students the expense of an entire term. Again, these ideas are provocative, particularly in light of the fact that they are advanced by the Vice President for the ADEA Council of Deans. What they suggest is very appealing in many ways to students: more, and more rapidly paced, patient appointments; relatively more op-erative and restorative procedures; and less debt. How-ever, it is important to recognize that, in many ways, they ask more questions than they answer. But Dr Williams is making sure these “MBA-minded ideas”, as he calls them, are a part of the ongoing conversation in dental educa-tion. In that regard, they spark healthy discussion that has the potential to inform future models of dental education, improving the financial positions of both students and schools in the process.

As always, if any of this is of particular interest to you—and it is my sincere hope that many of you are as intrigued by these ideas as we were at the presentation—please see your ADEA class representative for informa-tion on how to get involved with these and other issues and have your voice heard. ■

these ideas are provocative...more, and more rapidly paced patient appointments;relatively more operative and restorative procedures; and less debt

“

“


schools across the nation. Because SPEC was first founded at USC, this national inaugural meeting was especially significant for several USC students and alumni, includ-ing Dr. Meru. Dr. Meru, who had a huge role in organizing this event, com-mended the progress that the organization has made. He said, “It was such an honor to see the small ethics and professionalism club . . . become a national association that is represented by nearly half of all schools around the nation. With the support of our school, the Ameri-can College of Dentists, ASDA, the ADA, among others, it won’t be long before the organization has representation in each dental school. Congrats and kudos to the USC SPEA leaders.” This event signifies all the dedi-cation and hard work by the former and present SPEC leaders in rais-ing ethics awareness at USC and at other dental schools across the nation. The first day was dedicated

mainly to several guest speakers, including Dr. Rosenblum, USC’s founding faculty of SPEC, Dr. Ga-retto from Indiana University, and Dr. Peltier of University of Pacific. They provided leadership training for the group and facilitated break-out discussions pertaining to ethics. The second day featured an exceptionally motivational speaker, Mary Byers. She is a certified asso-ciation executive who has inspired audiences across the nation for over twenty years. Through group dis-cussions, she inspired the students to think more in-depth about the art of being an SPEA ambassador. The majority of the meeting was spent ratifying SPEA’s gov-ernance structure. After numer-ous amendments suggested by the students, ratifications were made, and SPEA’s national bylaws were officially completed. The final component of the meeting was the elections for the national leader-ship positions. USC chapter SPEA co-presidents, Sean Gardner and Pehrson Hawkley, were elected as

the inaugural Executive Chair and Treasurer, respectively. Also, Peter Lee was voted by the board to be the Council Fellow of Governance. Being a national entity, SPEA is now run by a board of regents composed of student leaders across the country. The SPEA Executive Chair Sean Gardner shared a few words regarding his mission for the organization. “It is not our goal to have every dental student become a member in our organization, but we definitely want every dental student to know of our organization and our mis-sion. In our first year, we hope to establish a chapter in every school . . . We will continue to grow as long as there are some students who are interested in having an open forum to discuss and educate themselves about ethics.” With a growth of interest in den-tal ethics across the nation, SPEA hopes to create an environment that inspires future leaders to preserve the integrity of the dental profes-sion. ■


AYUDA 2011 Rosarito


SEAN GARDNER 2013AYUDA Volunteer

The last day of the AYUDA trip in Belize, Pehrson Hawkley, Esther Schara, and I were talking about places we like to vacation. I mentioned my passion for visiting this community called Las Gaviotas, which is 20 minutes south

of Rosarito, Mexico. I have visited there three to four times a year for the last few years because of the great surf, proximity, and tranquil community. We started talk-ing about how awesome it would be to have an AYUDA trip down to Mexico, especially since we could drive there from Los Angeles. As the conversation progressed it turned from a whimsical poolside dream to a serious planning meeting with plans being made accompanied by the determination to make an AYUDA trip happen in Rosarito. Our idea was to go to Mexico on a Wednesday and do a two-day clinic on Thursday and Friday. In the next few months, Pehrson and Bethany Lowe were able to obtain approval for our externship from the school as well as organize the necessary equipment and means to cross the border with our team. I was charged to make some local contacts in Rosarito to set up our clinic. After several fruitless attempts, I was able to make a solid contact. My information was passed along to Jorge Crosthwaite, who is the director of DIF in Rosarito (Mexico’s equiva-lent to social services). With the help of Jorge we were able to set up everything for our clinic in October. Since we were so fortunate with the speed and ease to be able to set the clinic up, we did not have time to raise any money for our clinic from our usual donors. The student leadership of AYUDA and I met together and talked about how much it would cost to stay in Mexico for 3 nights, feed everyone, and pay for our clinic. We decided that if we had 40 students come and 5 faculty members that we could pay for everything with $200 per person. When students were invited to come on the trip they were informed that their money would not only be paying for their housing and food, but that it would also pay for the supplies of the clinic. This was something else that had never been done before, students had never donated the money to actually run the clinic as well as their time to be there. When everyone arrived on Wednesday night and gathered together at our first dinner, there was a certain excitement and enthusiasm in the air that made this AYUDA trip more special even from the beginning. Almost everyone was a stranger to that part of Mexico so we all went out to eat together and hung out together for most of the trip. A sense of camaraderie was created from this togetherness and the fact that all of the students wanted to be there and so much so that they were willing to pay for the clinic themselves. When we arrived at the school located in the countryside of Rosarito in a very poor area with barely a paved road out front, we saw Jorge and other social workers setting up tables and chairs that we needed as well as canopies to shade those of us who would be outside. We used the largest room in the school, which was a small classroom by United States standards, the rest of us worked outside. We brought with us all of our usual dental

“The level of excitement of every student and faculty to serve in Mexico was inspiring to the AYUDA leadership and

to those around them. It was a very special trip to see every student work so hard knowing that they would be receiving nothing in return for their efforts. The true spirit of service

was alive in Rosarito. I really appreciated everyeone who participated in this externship. All of you inspired me to

work harder and to be grateful for the opportunity to serve. Pehrson Hawkley 2013

“

“


One thing that stood out to me was after we gave out 300 or so toothbrushes, I looked out back

at the sink and there were 15 kids brushing their teeth. I know that

for some of them it was probably the first time that they had ever used a toothbrush and for oth-ers it had just been a very long

time. Either way it was nice to see some immediate response to our

efforts. It was also amazing to have a great clinic in conjunction with a surf trip. I mean seriously,

what more can you ask for.Andrew Ricci 2014

equipment and a plethora of toothbrushes and tooth-paste that had been donated. When we began to treat the children we saw how much we were needed there, almost every child we saw had rampant carries. For many of the children this was the first time that they had seen a dentist. By the end of the first day we had treated 76 kids. In the midst of our clinic we found out that we were the first dental hu-manitarian group that had ever come down to this loca-tion in Rosarito. This fact attracted the attention of the whole community, the Mayor’s wife and president of D.I.F. Karla Lopez de Robles along with the press came to see our clinic. The people of Rosarito were so gra-cious and excited that our group would come down to serve their community. When we were asked why we came to Rosarito out of all of the places in the world, we answered that we wanted to help out our neighbors that had been so hospitable to me on my many surf trips down there with friends. The next day, Friday, we were able to see another 94 children. In total, we were able to see 170 patients. We placed 35 composites, 80 amalgams, 70 sealants, 3 stainless steel crowns, 59 fluoride varnishes, performed 70 extractions, 10 direct/indirect pulp caps, and 7 pro-phies. One experience that I will always treasure on this trip was a little girl I treated on our last day. After clean-ing out an extremely carious 1st molar, she hugged me and told me how grateful she was that we came to her school to help her. As a token of her appreciation she gave me one of her bracelets that she had on, this touched my heart because I knew that these bracelets meant so much to her and that she could not afford to replace it. Since the clinic was such a huge success we decided to make it an annual externship. We plan to follow this community and tract their oral health in the com-ing years to see if our clinic is making an impact on the community’s oral health. I am thankful for the experience, which I had in serving the community in Rosarito, Mexico. How much more did the service mean to me having been a part of a dream to come to this community that I had visited several times before. We were able to make the first ever completely student organized and paid AYU-DA trip happen. To the entire faculty who came with us on the trip we thank you and we also thank Dean Abelson for allowing us to create this externship. ■

“

“


“I just wanted to say that the trip to Rosarito really could not have been a better experience. First off, the people who went are just amazing people. Honest people. People who want to make a dif-ference. That fact in itself is an inspiring and motivating factor to try to be more than “just another dental student.” Personally, going on these types of trips are always so humbling to me. It takes me out of the dental school bubble and reminds me that in real life, it is hard for many people. While normally I would be worrying my brains out about my next test or fixed partial denture practical exam, this trip allowed me to take a step back and realize that there are other things out there.”

Cynthia Young 2014

“This was my favorite AYUDA trip because I knew that every com-posite I did, every amalgam, the

anesthetic I used, I paid for it and that gave my service an extra spe-

cial place in my soul.” Bridger Jensen 2012

“

“

“

“


Indian Dental Student Association

BIJAL MEHTA 2012 HARPREET SINGH 2014IDSA

The new, restructured Indian Dental Student Association (IDSA) is an organizationdesigned to be a support group for south

Asians within the school to ultimatelyachieve the highest standards in dentistry. With our strong ties to the greater Los Angeles Indian dental society’s - the IDA(Indian Dental Association) & the PDS (Punjabi Dental Society) - and moreimportantly, strong student representation in the DDS and ASPID programs, there isno reason why we can’t improve quickly as an organization. The IDSA first held a welcome potluck in Au-gust with Indian food contributed fromall its members. The turnout was great with over 30 members in attendance! InOctober, a lecture on Warm Vertical Obturation techniques was given from ourfaculty advisor, Dr. Santosh Sundaresan. Look forward to more lectures, morepotlucks and good times as this organization con-tinues to grow!JOIN IDSA NOW!Email [email protected] for more informa-tion. ■

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to formally invite you to join the Practice Management Society. While we have a lot of speakers, resources, and information for you, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce the club, take care of logistics, and get your input as to what you would like to know when it comes to running a successful practice. Dentistry is not only a health care profession, but also one that requires a business sense for success. We felt that there is a serious need in our education for a business com-ponent and therefore we’re hoping to supplement our clinical experiences with a more management oriented perspective. ■

Practice Management

Society

GEORGE JABER 2013President, Practice Management Society


A Hiker’s PARADISE

BRENDAN VAHEY 2014Dr. Eggleston Hiking Scholarship Winner

More than likely you are reading this because you are stuck at school amidst the EU’s and TPX’s and have nothing better to read. Well, Congratulations, you and the 38 students that participated in the recent, notorious Hiking Scholarship are all champions.

With the help of Andrew Vo (2015 DDS), Dr. Dave Eggleston (USC Dental Alumni) organized this unique challenge to test any current dental students’ physical and mental stamina on a 7.5 mile, “No Holds Bars” speed hiking competition in the fabled hills of the Black Star Canyon in neighboring Orange County. A few basic rules were established to keep this race as clean as a Caviwipe. One foot had to be on the ground at all times and each foot must strike the heel first and then finish with the toes. But, there was a catch to this scholarship. You had to beat Dr. Eggleston to the top to receive your $500 Scholarship. Even more compelling was the honor of being first and receiving an additional $500. I know what you are thinking, he a Prosthodontist in Orange County. He is counting money on the weekends, not hiking. The catch is that Dr. Dave Eggleston is a Prosthodontist with a passion for the hills and for USC Den-tistry. His recent summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a clear testimony to his fleet feet and strong will. Race day morning found a cool air in the Orange County hills and ample smiles unloading from the sponsored Tour Bus shuttle from campus down to the trailhead. The sun remained tucked off to the East, Dr. Eggleston met us with a pleasant, polished demeanor, hiking poles, and a white T-shirt. Along with a few of his training buddies, to keep us novice speed walking hikers honest, the race began promptly. It was all smiles the first few hundred feet as he surprised all participants with a complimentary $200 Scholarship for the few that successfully braved the Saturday morning alarm sounding at 4:45 A.M.


Make Possible

ALLISON CUEVAS DH2012Health Fairs Coordinator

USC’s prestigious Dental Hygiene Class is not only one of the most rigorous academic programs on campus, but one which em-

phasizes the value of giving back to the commu-nity, one health fair at a time. The Dental Hygiene school has been participating in health fairs throughout Southern California communities for decades and its students reap the rewards by ap-plying dental knowledge from the classroom and the clinic, into action in a “mobile” environment. During the 2011 summer session, the Dental Hy-giene Class of 2012 participated in 4 health fairs, including the influential NAACP Health Fair in Los Angeles, from July 23-24, as well as the Spe-cial Needs Network Health Fair on August 28th. During these two events the students serviced ap

The hike ensued on a gravel road that led up the canyon. It snaked around each hillside and eased its way up the gorge. The cold air had a pleasant burn in the lungs and as the breathing became more intense it became more obvious that this may be harder than what most of us had dreamt. From the start no one really wanted to be that guy or girl gunning for #1. Inevitably, there was a group that broke away from the pack and casually jostled for the ultimate prize at the end of the proverbial rainbow. As it turned out, I was in that group. It was only a few of us that decided to strut there stuff, up to front. With makeshift hiking poles in hand and a few students reminiscing last night’s famed Delt Halloween Party, the lead group looked more like misfits from an Outdoor Club gone wrong than dental students. Maybe twenty minutes into the hike, the first switchback initiated the beginning of the climb to the top. It didn’t take long for dried foamy saliva and salty sweat stains to appear on the challengers. Even more compel-ling was Dr. Eggleston setting a pace that most twenty year olds can’t do on a Razor scooter. After the cresting of the first climb, and half way into the race, most of us started to look for the nearest Star-bucks. Clearly, with no aid in sight, finishing the race looked to be a tall order. Looking up the canyon, it was obvious that there was another good climb to the top. As the sun warmed the foothills and the scrub brush passed by, I sped around the last switchback and saw the gate that marked the end of the race. I took a sip of water and looked back down the canyon to see who was next to arrive. As there were only two other gentlemen in the lead group, I was guessing it was going to be one of them. It didn’t take long for a surprise runner-up to show his endless stride. Around the corner came the pride of Vancouver, Canada, 6’6” Daryl Nyvall, strolling up to the top, wondering how a guy with cut off jean shorts and a 5’9” stride snuck by him. It was a high five and congratulations as the rest of the 12 students arrived along-side Dr. Eggleston to gradually emerge. As he stopped his watch to check his own time, Dr. Eggleston complimented all of us for challenging our-selves to make it to the top of the trail. A few pictures were taken, a breath of fresh air, and a HOORAY as we began the 7.5 mile return journey back to the trailhead for complimentary cold water and food. As we trekked back, the intense heat filled sunshine showed Dr. Eggleston’s plain white T-shirt and his savyness as a Southern California hiker. We all met up down at the trailhead to relive the adventure and thanked Dr. Eggleston for his generosity. After all, it is not everyday, when you have someone to look after your health as well as your education. ■

Smi les


proximately 200 patients in need of dental care. Community health fairs offer great opportunities, particularly for individuals experiencing economic hard-ship, to receive access to affordable or free dental health care. “I really liked that people who quit going to the dentist because they had no insurance or money to pay for private practice, found that they had alternative op-tions such as USC and local clinics. Now they can refer these same places to other people in similar situations and they can get dental care for them and their fami-lies,” said Katrina Concepcion, USC Dental Hygiene student. Some of the services provided by dental hygiene students at health fairs include free oral hygiene instruc-tion, which teaches patients how to properly brush and floss. Additionally, students provide oral health cancer and dental screenings, nutritional counseling, patient education about dental disease and anti tobacco educa-tion to all participants. “From cancer screening, oral hygiene instruction, and nutritional counseling, what we do changes both lives and the way in which people live. I feel truly blessed to be able to partake in such a noble cause,” said Liora Fink, SADHA vice president. The NAACP is the National Association for Ad-vancement of Colored People. The Health Fair was held at the Convention Center here in Los Angeles and provided services to many people who came from all parts of the U.S Most of the patients were from out of town and were very grateful to have the students share their wealth of knowledge. The Special Needs Network Health Fair, on the other hand, was aimed to aid fami-

lies with children with autism. This Health Fair was sponsored by the Junior Blind of America and took place in the Los Angeles area near Inglewood. “That Health Fair aimed to benefit individuals and fami-lies with autism and special needs. It was a truly a humbling experience to be able to serve this specific population. All the Dental Hygiene volunteers did a great job and I genuinely believe that they utilized their skills to the best of their ability to deliver great preventive oral health care services,” said Mr. Carlos Sanchez the Co-Director for the USC Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van Prevention Program. Although student participation in health fairs aims to provide and improve access to dental health care to a wide scope of individuals, the experience helps to enrich the USC Dental Hygiene’s class knowledge; and creates a better learning experience for both the patient and the students in a non-traditional environ-ment. “Participating in the many health fairs that take place in the Los Angeles area is just one of the many opportunities USC offers its dental and dental hygiene students. Health fairs put our talents to good use and gives us a chance to serve the community,” said Fink. Health fairs can impact people, for low cost, in huge ways. If you would like to get involved in USC’s Dental Hygiene School health fairs, contact Tim Hughes at 213 740-7955 or [email protected] for further info. ■

From oral cancer screening, oral hygiene instruction, and nutritional counseling, what

we do changes both lives and the way in which people live.

“ “


CH

RIS

TOP

HE

R A

UY

ON

G


COMICS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Feb 5

Feb 15

Feb 20

Feb 29-Mar 4

Mar 15

Mar 17-21

Apr 9-13

Apr 16-27

Mar 27-30

SuperBowl Sunday

Research Day

President’s Day Holiday

ASDA Annual Session

The Auction

ADEA Annual Session

Final Exams

Trimester Break

WREB - Clinic Closed


CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. routinely barbecues during Tx Planning Seminar4. _______ width6. method to measure biologic width7. prediction of disease duration and outcome12. type of periodontitis associated w/ A. actinomycetem-comitans13. ________ gingivalis14. classification used to measure bone loss in furcation involvement15. pericoronal abscess16. periodontitis experienced in Western Front trenches

DOWN

2. inflamed gums w/o bone loss3. created selective medium discovering A.A.’s role in periodontitis5. minocycline brand name8. causes gingival hyperplasia in 50% users9. Dilantin©10. bone loss greater than half of root length

THEME: Periodontics

1 3 4

2

65

7 9

10

9

11

12

13

14

15

16

Documents

The ASB Articulator Vol 8 Iss 3